Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/89

Rh and at last regain the narrow and straight road. Only the blind and the weak, and those who are too lazy or too stiff-necked, refuse to turn aside. And with each step their road becomes darker and narrower and more painful, and ends at last in destruction and punishment for all who persist in it.

The paths which lead to the right are the only hope for those who, despite the first warning sign, enter upon the wrong road. At first there are many such paths, and even though a false start has been made, it is still no very difficult thing to "turn to the right". Gradually, however, the paths become fewer and farther apart, and longer and harder to travel, as the broad road bends ever farther to the left away from the true and straight road. At last they cease altogether, and those who still continue in the crooked way are hopelessly lost. Yet up to the very last path it is possible to depart from the evil way and "turn to the right". It means hard and bitter struggle and much time lost for having strayed from the true course, but at last we can win to the straight road and to true happiness, and can attain the goal of usefulness and blessing which God has appointed for all existence, if only we persist in our struggle and steadfastly choose the right. Sin will overcome us at last, if we yield weakly to it. But so long as we struggle, we may still gain the mastery. The paths are repentance, acknowdedgment of sin, self-abasement, atonement and divine forgiveness. All these lead back to the right road, the way God has meant that mankind should tread. The rabbis said, "He who acknowledges his sin and humbles himself in this world, will not be put to shame in the world to come". Truly, if we choose the right and do well, we shall receive reward from the Lord; but if we do not do well, then sin croucheth at the door, and for us is its desire, and it must at last overcome us. Then we will be like Cain, and his fate will be ours.